Stanford MBA Admission Blog Archives

GSB Community Archives

5 September 2007

Just made my first loan through Kiva.org

A few weeks ago I finally took the time to read up on Kiva.org and ended up making my first loan to an entrepreneur in Azerbaijan who needed cash to increase and diversify her inventory. This was a great experience and more rewarding than getting myself more tunes or another movie.

Kiva has succeeded in changing lives by creating a way for people like me to loan $25 to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world.

Kiva was co-founded by Jessica Flannery, MBA 2007, and is a great example of the passion our students bring to the GSB.

This year is a big one for the BBSA--it is the 25th anniversary of the organization and of their annual conference (the longest-running at the GSB). The student planning committee has been hard at work putting together an entire weekend of activities (25-27 April 2008) to commemorate this special occasion. It will include not only the annual conference, but also an alumni/student happy hour to kick off the weekend, and a gala dinner after the conference. It promises to be an educational, inspiring, and especially FUN weekend!

Featured Events are student-proposed and student-led conferences, symposia, or banquets that focus on a specific industry or topic of interest to GSB students and alumni. The events change from year to year, but one thing remains the same--they are always a great opportunity for our students to learn from and network with top business and management professionals (many of them GSB alumni!).

There are three Featured Events this year:
--Education Symposium
--Health Care Banquet
--Principal Investment Conference

The Principal Investment Conference is right around the corner (13 February 2008). The GSB community is really excited about it, and with good reason--over 45 senior investment professionals from leading hedge fund, private equity, real estate and venture capital firms are coming to campus for this event. The agenda includes a gala dinner, 2 networking receptions, 4 keynote speeches, 8 panels and over 35 roundtables. Check it out at http://sa-gsb.stanford.edu/clubs/pic/

The list includes a great variety of music and during the interview Bob shares the story of how his piano teacher allowed him to play songs more appealing to a teenager such as "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie." During his 7 years in Australia Bob became very fond of Australian music and so "Waltzing Matilda" and "I Still Call Australia Home" made it on to his list as well.

20 February 2008

Prof. Harrison elected to National Academy of Engineering

Congratulations to Professor J. Michael Harrison, who was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his fundamental contributions to stochastic networks and financial engineering.

Prof. Harrison--the Adams Distinguished Professor of Management--has developed and analyzed stochastic models in several different domains related to business, including mathematical finance and processing network theory.

His current research is focused on call-center management, dynamic pricing, and revenue management.

17 April 2008

Earth Day = Low Carbon Diet Day

The Arbuckle Cafe at the Stanford GSB will be celebrating Earth Day, 22 April 2008, as Low Carbon Diet Day.

In conjunction with Bon Appetit, a Palo Alto-based catering company, Arbuckle will be providing a low carbon menu all day.

You may be asking, "What is a low carbon diet? It sounds like a low carb diet...so does 'low carbon' mean fewer carbohydrates?"

No, not really. Actually, the menu won't change that much compared to other days, but the source of the food will be different. Usually, the cafe imports food from outside the Bay Area so as to be financially competitive. But on 22 April, the cafe will use local produce as much as possible to reduce the carbon emission from transporting the food.

We can cut carbon while enjoying seasonal fresh ingredients from local farms! It is great for our body and for the earth.

This is one example of the GSB taking small but firm steps to address environmental challenges, part of our commitment to helping change the world.

5 May 2008

Got XX chromosomes? We have a conference for you!

I am a GSB alumna who works in admissions with Derrick, Rita, and the rest of the team.

In addition to reading your amazing applications, we're always looking for new ways to reach prospective applicants and let them know about our program.

Because attracting more women to the Stanford GSB has been a longstanding goal, we decided to launch a conference oriented to prospective women applicants.

MBA Admissions would like to invite you to join us on Saturday, May 17 for XX Factor: WOMEN+LEADERSHIP, and revel in a day of information and interaction.

After breakfast and a keynote address from alumna Trae Vassallo, MBA 2000, (she began her career as an engineer working for IDEO and ran a successful startup before becoming a venture capital partner), we will meet with recent alumnae and current students, engage in class simulations with GSB professors, and learn about admissions, financial aid, and career opportunities. There is no charge for this full day event.

XX Factor will focus on the value of the business school experience and the options available to women who have the MBA degree.

10 September 2008

Welcome to the MBA Class of 2010

Members of the MBA Class of 2010 have been arriving all week long and are settling in at the Schwab Residential Center and elsewhere on campus and the surrounding area.

This afternoon, I was able to join my colleagues in Student Life for a few hours to help greet the 2010s and to distribute various resource packets including welcome letters, class schedules, and course readers.

While the 2010s are beginning their personal two-year journey at Stanford, we have already started talking to potential applicants to the MBA Class of 2011.

If you're thinking about applying to Stanford, or just want to hear more about the Stanford MBA Program, I encourage you to sign up for one of our worldwide information sessions.

In a few days, I will post some advice the graduating 2008s have left for you.

18 September 2008

Application tips from the MBA Class of 2008

This May, just a week before graduation, I was able to sit down with a few MBA 2008s and ask them what advice they have for prospective students considering applying to Stanford.

All responded that the application process was a very rewarding experience that helped them learn a lot about themselves. And, they say, "be yourself." Don't second-guess what you think the admissions committee might want to hear.